One of Us | Jegulus

Three

"I'll get something for you, gonna be right back", James said and stood up. He casted a last glance at Regulus and left the room.

Now that he was alone, he didn't know what to think. He didn't really believe that someone like James Potter actually had the abilities to get this mess right.
He and his friends were convinced that they were invincible and that their righteousness and heroism would conquer anything. That they could win a war with nothing but friendship and a good heart.
They'll realise they're wrong eventually, he thought. If everyone on their side fought like this, the war was already lost.

James returned with a handful of vials. He sat down on the edge of the bed and placed them beside him.
"So, I brought you some stuff. This-" he showed Regulus a vial with a thick golden liquid. Regulus tried to listen attentively.
"- might prevent the curse from spreading. But only temporary and I can't guarantee you it'll work... Still, worth a try, isn't it?"
He handed it over to Regulus, who closed his fingers around the glass but kept looking at Potter.
"Well I figured that as long as the curse keeps spreading, there will be no point in repairing the destroyed tissue - it will just continue. But if the magic is contained for a moment, it might be easier to extract it from certain areas. If we then heal the cells, they might stay safe. It's just a theory, though, I can't promise you anything. Okay?"
Regulus nodded slowly. He still hated the thought of all this and he didn't trust Potter's abilities in the slightest. But he resigned to the fact that this might be his only hope. He might be stubborn and pride but not stupid.

Still, he continued interjecting. Firing back made him feel a tiny bitter. He had the urge to make clear that he didn't gave in on him completely. So he lifted his head a bit and looked the older one straight in the eyes.
"Why do you have to do it, though? You're only a year out of school. You can't have any experience in healing. Even if you're actually trying to help me, you'll probably screw it up anyway."
James frowned, but he didn't look offended.
"I know I'm not the best at it. But there isn't anyone else. Or should I tell the others that we've got a Death Eater in our home? They'll send someone for you, but it won't be a healer, that's for sure."
Damn it, he had a point. Why did he always have to be so right?
"Oh", Regulus mumbled, defeated.

"Yeah. Anyways... I'm afraid it'll be a painful procedure. I could give you a Sleeping Draught or stun you, so you don't have to endure-"
"No!" Regulus panted. He didn't want to know what Potter would do to him if he was unconscious. He would not go completely defenceless in the presence of the enemy. Not a chance.
"Are you sure?" James asked frowning. "Yes. I can take it." His voice was shaking again.
"Mhh. At least a Calming Draught, then." He handed over a second potion.
"Best if you take them both now."

Regulus hesitated. He was scared. He'd never admit it but he was afraid of the pain and the possible danger of the whole action. His life was on stake, literally.
But he didn't want to appear like a coward. He wanted to keep the last tiniest bit of dignity he still had.
So he emptied one vial shortly after the other.

The change was so gradually he almost didn't notice the effects at all. After two or three minutes he was feeling calm and relaxed. His heartbeat has slowed down and he wasn't feeling as hot as before. The pain hasn't vanished, though it became kind of dull, like a sound through a shut door. It was bearable. Regulus sighed in relief.

"Alright, I think I should get started now, er... It's probably best if I start with the injuries in your head. They pose the greatest danger, I reckon." James looked at him uncertainly.
"Just do it, I don't care", Regulus muttered and glanced up at him.
"Okay." He kneeled beside the younger boy.
"Just don't kill me, alright?"
James chuckled. "Don't worry, my mum showed me some useful healing spells for situations like this. And she was the best at it."
"Mhh. Great."
"Oh, and please don't move. That would make it much more difficult."
"I'm not stupid, Potter."
"Of course not."

Potter brushed Regulus' black, curly hair out of his face and exhaled slowly before raising his wand. Regulus just hoped he knew what he would be doing. He tried not to concentrate too much on the incantations James muttered while placing the wand on different points of Regulus' head.
It was alright, he thought, before the first sharp pain shot through his skull.
"Aargh!", he grunted and shut his eyes. It was a weird feeling of something intruding and swirling around his head. He felt the urge to leap up and bring as much space as he could between himself and James. Instead, he forced himself to lie still and trust the older boy. Even if it was against every of his instincts. He had to.

The stinging pain increased. It became particularly strong in his left temple. He clenched his teeth to stay silent, but it quickly became worse and worse. He panted and started sweating again.
"Are you sure you're doing the right thing?!", he hissed. Potter didn't answer but mumbled a silencing spell on the room instead. Regulus recognised the spell in between all the unfamiliar incantations.
And it was in the right moment, because a second later the pressure on his skull increased even more and he could help crying out in pain.
"Sorry", Potter muttered tensed.

This couldn't be right, Regulus thought. His head was about to explode. He never felt such a strange and unbearable kind of pain before. How could the healing process be worse than the actual curse? It didn't make any sense to him. Again, he couldn't help thinking that Potter was lying about his intentions. He shouldn't have trusted him.
He squirmed under James' grip, indecisive whether he should actually break away.
"Keep still, will you?", James advised him, but Regulus didn't have the endurance to listen to his words.

"Come on, Reg, I can't do it if you're moving!"
Regulus tried to, but he really couldn't! It was unbearable. Make it stop, make it stop, make it stop, he repeated in his head. It was all he could think.
James put his wand down and pulled Regulus' head onto his lap to keep him still. He grabbed a cloth and wiped the sweat from the younger boy's forehead.
"Almost done, alright?", he promised and brushed his hear aside once again.
Then he continued.

Regulus was convinced that the time James was finished, his head had burst apart. He laid there, unable to move and panting hard, gasping for air.
"I've got you", James whispered. "Breathe in and out, slowly. It's better once you've calmed down, okay?"
He tried. He inhaled, exhaled. "Fuck", he mumbled finally. The worst was over, but the pain still echoed in his skull.
After some time, he slowly opened his eyes again. He lifted his hand to feel his head but brushed James' knee instead.
"Urgh", he panted suddenly. "Get away from me."

"Fine", Potter grunted and pushed Regulus' body away. "Help yourself then, next time."
He stood up. The sudden change of energy overwhelmed Regulus for a moment.
"Wait!", he turned his head. "Where are you going?"

Potter's expression was strangely firm. Regulus' words probably just insulted his ego. Merlin, he was so full of himself.
"Do you listen to yourself? You're the most ungrateful arse I've ever met. I don't own you anything here."
"But-"
"I'm exhausted, it was a long day. Not everyone spent it in bed, so if you'd excuse me, I'd rather have a few more hours of sleep than wasting them in here."

Regulus didn't know what to say, so he kept quiet. James turned away from him and walked over to the door.
"You can take the Sleeping Draught, if you want", he added. Then he left and Regulus was alone again.